Constantine XV of Mesogeia

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Constantine XV (1648- 1722), known as Constantine the Glorious was Emperor of Mesogeia from 1653 until his death in 1722. His reign of 69 years is one of the longest in the history of Mesogeia. Coming to the throne at the tender age of five, his early years as emperor were dominated by a regency and a rebellion against that regency. Coming of age in 1669, Constantine took control of the government and ruled as an absolute monarch until his death. With the reins of government in his hands he began the centralization process turning Mesogeia from feudalistic state to a more modern state. Constantine is well known in the history of Mesogeia as a military strategist, a patron of the arts, and notorious lover of women.

During his long reign, his empire was one of the most powerful nations on earth, but after his death a slow stagnation followed, reversed only by the successful reign of Theodora II. Constantine is most widely remembered for the lavish court that flourished under his rule at Alexandropolis; a court where he kept a harem of beautiful concubines.

Early years

Constantine was born December 1648 in the Philopation Palace, to Constantine XIV and Empress Anna of Levantanie. Following tradition, the young prince was named Gaius Rhomanius Troadinos Constantine Manuel Henri Louis. His birth was hailed as a miracle because at the time his parents had been married for over twenty years and not a single child had been born alive to them.

At the age of five, Constantine's father died and he succeeded to the throne at a tender age. His mother the Dowager Empress served as regent for her young son; the two of them developing a close relationship unheard of in the royal courts across INSERT CONTINENT.

Regency and the Dynatoi

With the death of Constantine XIV, his young son ascended the throne with his mother Empress Anna of Levantanie as regent. Although Anna remained de-facto regent of the empire until 1663, she appointed her favorite Archbishop PLACEHOLDER to handle all government affairs, practically handing over the government of the empire to him.

Early into the reign of Constantine XV, a civil war known as the Dynatoi revolt erupted as a result of the Crown's augmentation of power at the expense of the traditional liberties of the Plebeians living in the urban areas as well as the established rights of the empire's four houses of parliament. Sometime in early 1658 forces loyal to the Parliament took control of the capital of Alexandropolis, following PLACEHOLDERs arrest of leading members of the Dynatoi. The Emperor, Dowager Empress, and Imperial Court were forced to fleet the city. Only returning after the army of PLACEHOLDER retook the city the following year. By the end of 1659 peace was restored for a time, with the Empress Dowager enshrining the rights of the parliament.

Personal life

Constantine was married in 1668 to Princess PLACEHOLDER, who became his Empress consort; the couple had fifteen legitimate children of which three reached adulthood. Empress PLACEHOLDER died in 1691, and Constantine wasted no time in marrying PLACEHOLDER, a middle-aged women from a wealthy noble family; they had one child, Theodora who eventually would succeed to the throne.

Other then his two Empress Consorts, Constantine had a total of four Imperial consorts, all of whom were noblewomen who had decided that life was better for them in the Emperor's harem then outside it. From these four women and at least two concubines Constantine fathered 25 children. He also carried on affairs with multiple married noblewomen.